Wale Edun, minister of finance, says weak regulatory frameworks and multiple taxation hinder growth in the telecoms sector.

Edun spoke at a business roundtable on investments in broadband connectivity and safeguarding critical national information infrastructure held on Wednesday in Abuja.

The two-day programme was organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address issues related to the right of way and protection of broadband infrastructure.

Edun, represented by Ali Mohammed, the director of the home department at the ministry of finance, urged the private sector to increase investments in the telecoms industry.

He said the federal government would solve the challenges through stakeholder engagements.

“This sector is virtually vulnerable; it is compact, therefore, we are calling on our local and international investors to come forward so that we can invest in this particular sector,” Mohammed said.

“The problems have been identified in terms of connectivity and broadband infrastructure development in Nigeria. The government alone cannot do it.

“We need the cooperation and collaboration of the private sector. There is a need for stakeholders to come together and deal with these particular problems.”

NGF, ONSA ASK STATES TO ALIGN WITH FG’S BROADBAND PENETRATION TARGET

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), said broadband connectivity is an essential part of infrastructure and the backbone of Nigeria’s social and economic future.

Abdulrazaq, represented by Abdulateef Shittu, the director-general of the NGF, called on state governments to accelerate reforms that protect broadband infrastructure and align with the federal target of 80 percent broadband penetration by 2027.